Stand by for the backlash from environmentalist groups. One of the mainstays in the green movement and their efforts to derail domestic energy production is the widely touted liberal doctrine that fracking is bad. (For those just joining our program, fracking is the common nickname associated with hydraulic fracturing.) Various political, agenda driven activists like Josh Fox have made a fine living blaming fracking for everything from exploding sinks to earthquakes. (No… seriously.)

In the past, when a series of studies have shown the majority of these claims to be nonsense, activists responded by claiming that the institutions performing the studies must have deep, secret ties to the energy industry. Therefore the results must be suspect. But now a new study is out, and this one comes from academia.

The hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to develop natural gas has no direct connection to groundwater contamination, according to a study released Feb. 16 by the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.

The study reported that many problems blamed on hydraulic fracturing are related to processes common to all oil and gas drilling operations, such as casing failures or poor cement jobs.

University researchers also concluded that many reports of contamination can be traced to above-ground spills or other mishandling of wastewater produced from shale gas drilling, rather than from hydraulic fracturing, Charles Chip Groat, an Energy Institute associate director, said in a statement.

These problems are not unique to hydraulic fracturing, he said.

The vast majority of fracking activity takes place hundreds, if not thousands of feet below the aquifer. Will you find natural gas and related hydrocarbons in the area when you initially drill a hole in the ground in places like Pennsylvania’s shale play? Yes, you will. You will also find those same compounds present when you drill a new water well. The land is full of hydrocarbons. That’s why we drill there.

Of course, you can expect this study to fall on deaf ears among the usual suspects, just as previous ones have. Possibly the only thing that’s going to attract the attention of the key players is the tens of thousands of jobs being added in Pennsylvania and the fact that state with the lowest unemployment rate in the nation right now is North Dakota, at 3.3%. I wonder how they managed that? (Hint: they’re not picking mangoes.)

I have no problem with fracking as long as the shock wave stays on the property under contract. I’ve seen water wells collapse and need to be redrilled from the slides.

My neighbor was on television news showing how he could rinse a milk jug out 2 times with water from their faucet and then put water in it again and light it with a match. There was that much gas in his water after they drilled.

They are not even properly grouting the wells to seal between layers.

My question is, how would you like them stealing the gas off your property by fracking on your neighbors property?

I have heard way to many local people having problems to not doubt any report that says any drilling is totally safe, so I am on your side but know we need to continue drilling.

I have not studied geology (yet) but from what I have seen on the sides of cliffs, the earth’s layers are not all perfectly horizontal and they are not even all the same thickness so there is going to be variation at every drilling site. When there is a lot of money to be made, whether it is with oil or snake oil, I always take both sides into consideration.

University researchers also concluded that many reports of contamination can be traced to above-ground spills or other mishandling of wastewater produced from shale gas drilling, rather than from hydraulic fracturing 

Great... I think...???

7
posted on 02/18/2012 2:06:51 PM PST
by RedMonqey
(A politician's integrity is usually only as strong as his poll numbers.)

I don’t know where you are from, but stimulation does not take place in the vertical portion of the well.

Fracturing is done in the horizontal portion thousands of feet below the aquifer.

Collapsing wells are not new and have taken place after a thunderstorm.

With regard to lighting the water, people have done that for decades. That is methane....not natural gas. It occurs underground and is in most water supplies (in varying quantities).

They cannot “steal” gas off your property. That is a lie. Unless they have a lease with you, they cannot drill under your property. That is a significant lawsuit and since it has not been filed, it is probably bogus.

9
posted on 02/18/2012 2:30:23 PM PST
by Erik Latranyi
(When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)

My neighbor was on television news showing how he could rinse a milk jug out 2 times with water from their faucet and then put water in it again and light it with a match. There was that much gas in his water after they drilled.

That is a common problem unrelated to fracking. We had the same problem in our area for years. It actually reduced when they developed (vertically drilled) the area. You neighbor was being very dishonest.

11
posted on 02/18/2012 2:38:31 PM PST
by PA Engineer
(Time to beat the swords of government tyranny into the plowshares of freedom.)

This institution is funded with state tax money, so the professors are dependent upon state funding; and some of that funding derives from state taxes paid by BIG OIL! That means they have to toe the propaganda line of BIG OIL!

Oil and gas were discovered in Michigan primarily due to drilling for water. Basically the gas was there all along. In the 1980s they had a gas blowout up north while they were driving pilings for a highway bridge.

The waterkeepers are active here lately squealing about the injection wells and scaring people with claims about chemicals and even radioactive substances being pumped into the ground. Pure idiocy relying on idiocy. The brine comes out of the ground in one place and is pumped back into the ground a few miles away to push the oil toward the well.

I grew up in injection well territory in southwestern Jackson county. Now I live on the other side of the county and they’re doing it here. Most people don’t even notice it without eccoweenies telling them.

19
posted on 02/18/2012 7:40:08 PM PST
by cripplecreek
(What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)

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